Something New Releases From Tamiya??

You're way ahead of me Mike, I haven't seen their 2004 catalogue. I hope they are all new. I couldn't fathom them buying molds.

They have been selling Italeri plane kits under their own name for some time now, so I guess it is a distinct possibility that they might do armor too.

All the plane Kits state above the cover photo that the Plastic & Decals come from Italy .

From what I understand, Tamiya distributes Italeri kits in the Japanese market, so unfortunately I think this is what you're seeing in this catalogue. The Mercedes truck was released by Italeri about 5 or 6 years ago (I think).

Buts, I am not sure how accurate this information is, but here goes anyway… I am pretty sure that you are looking at releases that will only be in Japan. I don’t think Italeri is available there and yes Timiya has repackaged the old Italeri kits with a few extras thrown in. Chances are that unless you are in Asia, you will not see these kits. At least that’s what I think I heard on this forum a while ago.

here is a link for the kits I you are talking about

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/list/35afv/kit32401.htm


-edog

Their first Humvee, the Bushmaster, was a product of industry cooperation. Italeri molds, injected maybe in Japan. Look closely at the kit, and any of Italeri's. Same breakdown of parts, same flaws, etc.

Italeri did a Mercedes truck, so who knows? Problem with the Italian jobs, they don't have access to a lot of copyrighted stuff. AM General, OshKosh, you name it.

Of course, I may be just a bit wrong about this.

These kits are the old Italeri kits with a Tamiya Jerry can kit included in each. They have been around for years. Apparently they are only available in certain countries as part of an agreement established years ago to get around some import /export problem. The give away is the code number. The old Italeri kits have a Tamiya #32 prefix (ie 32401), whilst all Tamiya's mainstream military kits have a #35 prefix (ie 35271 for the 2004 Leopard release).

Italeri is available in japan, we can get pretty much any maker that is available.

The Importer for Italeri & other plane/military models think is called "Sunny" and is situated in Shimo-kitazawa/Tokyo. Atleast I see their sticker on many Kits in multiple HS.

So my Bushmaster I have on the way in the mail has those same Italeri "donut" wheels? I had read an article on the hummer flaws a long time ago and I had fortten they used some of the same molds!

BTW, I got the Steyr, nice Kit went smooth together.
Not often do I get a kit based on a design from back home.

I am pretty sure that you could get those Kits via Hobby Link Japan, Rainbow 10 or similar japanese based online shops if not available where you are.

see, i knew i was wrong

MMF. I take it those old Steyr (rubber?) tracks have not fallen to bits on you yet. Everyone that I know , including me, that built the Italeri kit found that the really thick track cracked apart at the link joins after a few years. Then again the tyres on the Tamiya LRDG Chevy all split too now I think of it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by petbat MMF. I take it those old Steyr (rubber?) tracks have not fallen to bits on you yet. Everyone that I know , including me, that built the Italeri kit found that the really thick track cracked apart at the link joins after a few years. Then again the tyres on the Tamiya LRDG Chevy all split too now I think of it.

Only finished mine about 4 monthhs ago, it was afterwards destroyed by a Resin Robot Model that came of the shelf during the normal shake, rattle and rolling we get over here.

Pretty common occurence over here, plus, with the limited shelf space I got most finished kits don't have a long display life.

QUOTE: Originally posted by petbat MMF. I take it those old Steyr (rubber?) tracks have not fallen to bits on you yet. Everyone that I know , including me, that built the Italeri kit found that the really thick track cracked apart at the link joins after a few years. Then again the tyres on the Tamiya LRDG Chevy all split too now I think of it.

Crap! I was planning on ordering that Chevy! I already have two pink panthers and Italeri's commando jeep. I only need Tamiya's SAS Jeep and the LRDG Chevy to complete my SAS desert collection! I'm still gonna get though. How bad is the cracking?

Hey all,
Aint that a same. Its funny nowheres in their catalogue did it mention "only sold" in such in such.
When I looked at the pix of the Mercedes Benz truck, it really lookied like it could pass for a Tamiya mold. The others the more I look, look like italeri molds.
So should I still get these bad boys and add them to my growing armor collection. I hope the a/c guys dont read this. LMAO
Flaps up, Mike

Some more kits I might have to add to the want list. The wife gave me a dirty look when I mentioned this to her.
mark956

Just got my household goods delivered from Oki yesterday, way too many boxes labeled "models" came in the door. Mostly Tamiya offerings, with a few from Panda and I think DML. Made a big purchase just before the movers came to pack us up. Wife rolled her eyes at each one. Now to get the office/workshop back together...

If you want the kits they are available from Lucky Model in Hong Kong. The Tamiya kits are orginally Itraleri with additional items such as fuel drums and cans. Might be a better quality of plastic in the Tamiya kits but for the price stick with Italeri. By the way; If you want out of production or hard to get kits , such as Academy Hummers, you can get them from Lucky Model. If you don't mind a long wait for surface mail (6 to 8 weeks) the prices are not bad.

MGM. Get the Chevy and get the Tank Workshop replacement wheels (they are the accurate scale 17 inch not 16 inch as per kit) or have a go at casting the wheels and tyres as one assembly. If you get good quality casting rubber and resin, and make a big enough plug for the wheel bottom, you should be able to do a one piece mould....remember, the wheels will be sunk into sand and the lack of detail where the plug was will be hidden.

A couple of small corrections to accurize the kit (apart from the afore mentioned wheels)
The front bumper protecter bar should be narrower.
The plate with the formation number on it should be closer to the centre.
The bridge weight sign should be on it's own plate attached to the right hand side of the bumper bar not on the front guard.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Butz So should I still get these bad boys and add them to my growing armor collection. I hope the a/c guys dont read this. LMAO

Yes, you should Mike. The Dark Side has swallowed up another wingy-thingy builder.